Unfortunately Wang has run the team to the ground that has made it impossible for fans to support or get any kind of funding to either have a new stadium or renovate the Coliseum. Not to mention they are losing money. Moving seems to be the next step much like the Seattle Super Sonics recently did. There are three markets that are vying for an NHL Team in Kansas City, who throw themselves at trying to get the Penguins to come for nothing, Winnipeg, and Las Vegas.

One small hope is that maybe the Isles can move but stay in the area like Queens or even help out the effort to get the Atlantic Yards deal to happen by getting two teams to play there instead of the Nets. Ideally any fan of the Islanders, NHL fan, and probably some people in the NHL would approve more of Wang just selling the team to somebody with an idea.

Wang should really give Bloomberg a buzz and ask if the vacant area that was once Shea Stadium can be used as ground for a new arena. He could argue that it brings Islanders to the city, it could help the Nets officially move to New York, and that it would be just one of several big sports cities that have a lot of their sports complexes centralized in one area.

Fortunately I would not even say the Isles are in the most danger of completely moving out of town. The Phoenix Coyotes despite their own arena, talk about a bad investment by Phoenix, are in massive debt, a terrible franchise since they moved there, and little fanfare. No local person is willing to buy the franchise. Kansas City almost seems like a set in stone destination followed by Winnipeg and Seattle.

IMO, the Islanders should move to KC as they have had little support on LI for well over a decade now. At the same time, Phoenix should be in Seattle, but that won't happen because the NHL wants to save face.

Winnepeg is a distant 3rd on the list of cities that could and should have a franchise. South Ontario (Hamilton) is not an option because Toronto and Buffalo would never allow it due to proximity.

If they were to move a couple franchises you could have divisions look like this:
Northeast:- Boston
- Buffalo
- Montreal
- Ottawa
- Toronto

I think Kansas City will get a team. Hopefully its the Coyotes. Winnipeg of course has an arena in place as does Seattle, ARCO was in no way an out of date arena like the NBA wants you to think.

The Thrashers possibly on the move definitely helps the Islanders chances of staying imo.

If Wang regrets it, then the bum should sell. Sell it to somebody with coin in the city who look at the humongous area adjacent from CitiField or will not be begging Kate Murphy about the Lighthouse project.

I think the Islanders have been on a down-turn has nothing to do with fan support. The arena is nothing to be proud of, the team has been horribly mismanaged from Mike Millbury to Garth "Michelin Man" Snow, and until they actually announce that they draft John Tavares, hardly somebody on the team who is a true face of the franchise. DiPietro is off-injured and could hardly be a superstar as the rest of his team are a bunch of slouches with exception to Hunter and Okposo, who is still too green. Fan support was in no way going to be vibrant. The Penguins should have moved prior to Crosby with that same thinking.

Hamilton Thrashers, Kansas City ______ (Scouts. I think the Predators are next), Seattle Panthers and the Winnipeg Jets Redux(Goes without saying)?

Re-arranged divisions

Northeast:
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Hamilton _____
Montreal Canadians
Ottawa Senators
-So not reality as Bettman may get an aneurysm at the thought there is a division with one token American team.

Central:
Washington Capitals
Tampa Bay Lightning
Carolina Panthers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Pittsburgh Penguins
-Ovechkin and Crosby in the same division would be a total coup for the NHL.

Central:
Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks
Kansas City_____
Minnesota Wild
-Kansas City has to be in the same division as a St. Louis team. Almost essential.

Northwest:
Winnipeg Jets
Vancouver Canucks
Seattle _____
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
-Again Seattle is token but this would be one of the best American hockey cities immediately, would very similar to San Jose Sharks fans.

Pacific:
Dallas Stars
LA Kings
Anaheim Ducks
Colorado Avalanche
San Jose Sharks
-Otherwise known as The Southern Strategy Teams That Actually Worked Out Well Division

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